This seems to refer to Flannery O'Connor's short story "The Life You Save May Be Your Own":
The story has a line 'Deep in the sky a storm' (...was preparing very slowly and without thunder as if it meant to drain every drop of air from the earth before it broke.)
Followed shortly by the main character (a man) saying: "My mother was an angel of Gawd..." – "...He took her from heaven and giver to me and I left her."
Also, in the story, a man leaves his newly wed wife (a mentally handicapped woman) sleeping in a small restaurant as they are on a road trip, and drives away fast and alone, as represented by the lines: "He drove it fast to make the night and
/ Looked down his angel where she lay / Resting her head and closed her eyes"
So yes, interpretations about a bad relationship and an abusive man are spot on. Can't say how much the first part of the song has to do with the story, though. Perhaps it's from the viewpoint of the abandoned bride?
Interesting sidenote: this song is preceded on the album by "The River", which is the name of the short story preceding "The Life You Save May Be Your Own" in O'Connor's novel collection "A Good Man Is Hard to Find" (and THAT is the name of at least two songs, by Tom Waits and Sufjan Stevens).
This seems to refer to Flannery O'Connor's short story "The Life You Save May Be Your Own":
The story has a line 'Deep in the sky a storm' (...was preparing very slowly and without thunder as if it meant to drain every drop of air from the earth before it broke.)
Followed shortly by the main character (a man) saying: "My mother was an angel of Gawd..." – "...He took her from heaven and giver to me and I left her."
Also, in the story, a man leaves his newly wed wife (a mentally handicapped woman) sleeping in a small restaurant as they are on a road trip, and drives away fast and alone, as represented by the lines: "He drove it fast to make the night and / Looked down his angel where she lay / Resting her head and closed her eyes"
So yes, interpretations about a bad relationship and an abusive man are spot on. Can't say how much the first part of the song has to do with the story, though. Perhaps it's from the viewpoint of the abandoned bride?
Interesting sidenote: this song is preceded on the album by "The River", which is the name of the short story preceding "The Life You Save May Be Your Own" in O'Connor's novel collection "A Good Man Is Hard to Find" (and THAT is the name of at least two songs, by Tom Waits and Sufjan Stevens).
@infinityontrial Brilliant!!
@infinityontrial Brilliant!!
@infinityontrial I knew the River reference to the literature and now that you explained it this makes sense as well. Thanks!
@infinityontrial I knew the River reference to the literature and now that you explained it this makes sense as well. Thanks!